Dr. D Udaya Kumar is known for designing the Indian Rupee symbol, making him prominent in the field of graphic design.
The symbol, which combines the Devanagari letter "₹" (Ra) and the Latin capital letter "R" without the vertical bar, was officially adopted by the Government of India in 2010.
This design was selected through a national competition held by the Ministry of Finance, in which Dr. Kumar's entry stood out for its simplicity, elegance, and ability to represent both Indian and international identities.
At the time, he was an assistant professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati, and his contribution has since been recognized as a significant achievement in the realm of contemporary Indian design.